Globe Theatre, London!!

I had the chance to be able to get a tour in Shakespeare's globe in London in the last week and it was a great experience as I learnt more about my monologue Julius Caesar!! and obviously learnt more about William Shakespeare!  I took loads of pictures and I took a picture of my monologue speech in old English writing (so cool)  Check them out below!!

Just a quick update!!!

Hi Guys!

I am going to London on Tuesday so I will be learning about Shakespeare more and be getting a tour inside globe theatre! excited? YES!  But I want to just let you know that tonight at 20:15 I officially fully learnt my Mark Antony Monologue/speech and couldn't be more happier! I'm also half way through my Midsummer Night's Dream script! I'm really starting to love classical more and more!

Kyle!

Greek Theatre Facts!

A few of them I've wrote down!!

• Almost every Greek city had a Theatre because plays were part of many religious festivals.
• The Theatre's were built on hillsides in the open air!!, and could often hold more than 18,000 spectators. 
• All the actors were men!!  They wore large masks that exaggerated facial expressions and emotions. 
• Greek plays were either comedies or tragedies.. Tragedies were often about the past, where as comedies tended to be about current and everyday life!
• Plays were either spoken or sang in ryme! 

Interesting!!  I want to show you a picture below of an example of how magnificent the theatre's were.  Look below!!

The theatres had to accommodate large crowds (thousands and thousands of spectators) as well as large casts. There could be up to 50 members of the chorus.

The initial setting for the theatres was a tent in front of a circle of dirt with the audience sitting on a hillside. Over time, theatres were literally built into the hill. They were first made of wood and then stone. The tent was replaced with an actual building.

Theatre Architecture

The main areas of the amphitheatre are:

skene: (meaning - Hut or tent) Building behind Orchestra. There were often one or two entrances on the side, usually decorated as a palace, or temple, depending on what was needed in the play.

orchestra: (meaning - dancing place) A semi circular area in front of the skene. This was the playing area.

Parados: (meaning - passageway) Gangway entries for the chorus on either side of the skene.

theatron: (meaning - viewing place) The area where the spectators sat. Originally referred to just the audience.

Thymele: (meaning - altar) A platform in the orchestra. It is suggested that the leader of the chorus stood on it to speak. It's also suggested that this is an altar for Dionysus, but it doesn't seem likely that one would stand on an altar. There were possibly two platforms side by side.

These amphitheatres are well known for their acoustics. The theory is that the theatres were built so that someone sitting in the very back row could hear the actors. Imagine if you had to play to an audience of 14,000!

Thanks to http://www.theatrefolk.com/spotlights/the-greek-theatre for the information!

The Mark Antony Speech!

Hi!

I want to show you a little speech made by Mark Antony that was said at Julius Caesar's funeral, he wasn't defending what he had done but was asking the people of Rome to at least be a little mourning over his death. He had done many things that was horrible... but Julius was a 'really good friend' of Mark's and this is what my monologue is. I want to be able to portrait how he is putting his feelings and emotions through his hand gestures, I want to update it a little and maybe cut a few things to twist it. I don't want it to be the exact same but want it to have purpose and show this through how i act it out.

[Speech Coming soon]


Enjoy!  Look at the end.  One of the most meaningful and powerful speech i will be doing!

A Midsummer Night's Dream!!!

I can't believe I got a part of Demetrius in this!!  I'm actually excited!!   I am highly interested in the love triangle in this between Demetrius, Hermia, Lysanda and Helena!!   As Hermia Loves Lysander, but her father Egeus (philostrate) wants her to marry Demetrius.  Lysander and Demetrius both love Hermia, though one has to wonder how genuine Demetrius's love is.  Yes complicated right? anyway!  Here's a quick video link to show you example!

history times!!!

These are an example of what they would were in the early 1500 -1600's usually I would have tights but chords will do just fine!

Renaissance!

We did a few questions in class about Renaissance and I want to show what I have got written down.

• It is an era in history from around 1500-to the mid 1600's, covers the time when some of the tudors and stuarts were in power!
• Means 'Rebirth' in French
• People were making new discoveries and wanted to learn more about the world.
• 1534 - church of england formed
• 1542 - Mary Queen of Scots lay claim to english throne
• 1544 - Henry VIII invades France
• 1545 - French attempt to invade England
• 1593 - Plague forces theatres to close.
• 1603 - Elizabeth I dies - James I becomes King.
• 1605 - Gunpowder Plot

Around at the time were:

• William Shakespeare
• Ben Jonson
• Christopher Marlow
• James Burbase - built the first purpose built theatre in London in 1576.

Themes/Issues

Shakespeare's Work. 

• two of his plays were lost supposedly, and 38 of them survived.
• they were divided into comedies, tragedies and histories.
• Example: Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Midsummer Nights dream.. they all were either tragedies or comedies. 

Elizabethan Beliefs. 

• The chain of being, cont. 
• The mornach was the highest
• Nobles and churchmen were below
• Gentlemen
• Commoners
• ALL women were considered to be inferior 
• Accepting one's place in the chain was a duty that would be rewarded by god in heaven!
• Myths and magic, cont.
• Fairies, Magic, Witches, Spells, and Prophecies all formed part of their view of life. 
• Folklore and superstition were often as important to people as the official religion taught by the church. 
• It was believed that they could make people go insane. 
• Disasters and Diseases were often blamed on witches also. 

The Elizabethan Theatre. 

Theatre plays were performed outside until around 16th century.  As it grew in size and importance, london became the center of English theatre. 

• The first London theatre was called 'The Theatre' in 1576
• The rose - 1587
• The Swan - 1595

Queen Elizabeth I Loved the Theatre, often held performances of plays at her court.  Shakespeare spent much of his career with a company called Chamberlaines. 

Many companies left london for tours of the countryside.

Hope you enjoy my little facts/ details :)   I need to go and practice monologue more and then I will try and figure what to do on my presentation.

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Julius Caesar.

My character is called Mark Anthony from the play William Shakespeare from the monologue I am performing.  I am going to show you a quick preview video of the speech i will be doing!

Welcome!

Hi!  

This is my blog and throughout the next few weeks i'm going to be expressing myself from how I feel with Classical theatre.. with links/video's/opinions on such people as Shakespeare!! 

Hope you enjoy!

Kyle Smith.